The annual Modesto Junior College Spring Football Game was held Monday, with former Turlock High quarterback Cole Gilbert getting reps with the top offensive unit.
Gilbert, a 2023 graduate of Turlock High, put his stamp on the Bulldogs’ program by leading the team to a 51-50 upset over top-seeded St. Mary’s in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 quarterfinals.
Now, he’s looking to leave a mark at MJC.
“Oh, man, I feel great,” said Gilbert, who broke his ankle in the 2023 Lions All-Star Football Game. “It’s my first live game back and I couldn’t feel healthier and couldn’t be more excited to be back on the field playing. I had a great time.”
The injury in the summer exhibition kept Gilbert from doing much in his first year at MJC aside from studying the playbook and picking up pointers from starter Luke Weaver, now at the University of Hawaii.
“That was very mentally challenging for me because I’ve never been that guy,” said Gilbert. “But I’d say it helped me out a lot as far as my game play, and knowledge of the game. He taught me a lot of things that will set me up for success, like dissecting the defense, and where to go with the football on pass schemes.”
Head coach Rusty Stivers felt his team checked enough boxes — for it being late April — to be satisfied with what he saw on the gridiron.
“On offense, you could tell we weren’t in sync,” said Stivers. “Last year, we had Luke Weaver calling the plays himself; it was his fourth year in the system, so it was a whole different pace. But, yeah, I was happy. Today kind of sets the tone for what you have to do going into the season.”
Stivers was especially pleased with the defense.
“I told the team this is the best defense we’ve had in the spring, and one of our top players — Jalonn Booth — didn’t even play,” said Stivers.
Booth, out of Merced High, was thinking about stepping away from football until he delivered a dominant performance in the 2024 Lions All-Star Game last June. The edge rusher recorded five sacks and nine tackles, and was in position for at least four other sacks that the slippery Samson Hunkin (St. Mary’s) twisted out of.
Booth sat out the intrasquad game due to soreness suffered in a minor tractor accident at home.
Gilbert believes the 2025 squad is capable of winning a fifth consecutive Valley Conference championship.
“I’m definitely happy,” said Gilbert. “I feel good about the team, myself included, but we’ve got a lot of things to work on. It’s spring football. We came out here, competed, and had a good time, but we’re coming back next week and we’re going to get straight to work for this upcoming season.”
The Pirates will open the 2025 campaign with a scrimmage against Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill) on Aug. 16 at MJC Stadium, then open the regular season two weeks later at home against Oakland’s Laney College.
Both games kick off at 5 p.m.
2025 MJC Schedule
Aug. 16 Diablo Valley College (scrimmage), 5 p.m.
Aug. 30 Laney College, 5 p.m.
Sept. 6 at Santa Rosa Junior College, 5 p.m.
Sept. 13 at College of San Mateo, 5 p.m.
Sept. 20 Butte College, 5 p.m.
Sept. 27 at American River College (Sacramento), 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 Fresno City, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 Reedley College, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Sacramento City College, 1 p.m.
Nov. 1 Monterey Peninsula College, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 at College of the Sequoias (Visalia), 1 p.m.
